James r



.I ARTROST.

(No Model.)

BUTTON HOLE STAY.

Patented June 14, 188.7.-

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES R. FROST, OF SKOWHEGAN, MAINE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GEO. B.SAFFORD, OF SAME PLACE.

BUTTON-'HOLE STAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 364,812, dated June14,- 1887.

Application filed March 30, 1887. Serial No. 233,050. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, JAMES R. Fnosfr, of Skowhegan, in the county ofSomerset and State of Maine, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Metallic Fastenings for Finishing Button-Holes; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in metallic fastenings forfinishing button-holes; and it consists in a metallic fastening providedwith asuitable number of prongs,which is applied to the outer side ofthe inner end of the buttoirliole, for the purpose of finishing,barring, ornamenting, and strengthening the buttonhole, at the same timethat the ends of thelining ofthe button-hole are secured firmly inposition, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The objects of my invention are principally to bar the inner end andsecure the ends of the lining of the button-hole in position by means ofa metallic fastening of any suitable kind,

and thus do away with the slow and bnngling work of sewing, either byhand or machinery,

the ends of the threads to thelining ofthe shoe.

Figure l shows a portion of the iiap of a button-shoe, taken from theouter-side. Fig. 2 is a similar View taken from the inner side.

A represents the flap or other part of a buttonshoe, and'B thebutton-holes madetherein, and provided with the usual lining, O.Heretofore the ends `of the threads used both in making the lining andin sewing the lining in place have had to be fastened, by sewing eitherby hand or machinery,to the lining ofthe shoe, which is very slow work,and then the threads are liable to work loose. In order to overcomethis, and for the purpose of strengthening, finishing, barring, andornamenting the button-holes, I apply to the outer sides of the innerend of each button-hole a metallic fastening device, D, which isprovided with any desired number of prongs, O, which are forced throughthe flap and its lining, andthcn bent over in such a manner as to catchthe threads and secure them tightlyin place. The threads are cut close,instead of having to be strung along from one hole to the other, andsewed to the lining of the flap. As will be seen, a very neat andornamental appearance4V is given to the button-hole at the same timethat the ends of the threads are held rigidly in position.

This metallic fastening strengthens the but tonholes at their innerends, so as to prevent them from becoming torn, does away with the slowand bungling work which has heretofore been done loy hand or machinery,covers up the yragged edge of the hole, and makes it bet ter andstronger than can be done by hand or machinery.

Having thus described my invention, I claim The combination, with a shoeprovided with worked button-holes, of a metallic fastening device placedat the inner end of the button-- hole to form a bar, and provided with asuitable number of prongs, which catch over the ends of the threads usedin finishing the button-holes and hold them in place, substantially asshown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMEs E. EEosfr.

